Review of The Hurt Locker (2008) by Eli T — 23 Mar 2013

I saw Zero Dark Thirty before The Hurt Locker, and I would have to choose the latter as my favorite. Where Zero Dark Thirty was definitely an adequate epic of sorts, the stagnant story - forgettable almost in its entirety - was a shockingly large letdown.

The Hurt Locker is shorter, sweeter, and commands a much superior direction. Interestingly, almost all of the photography is stunningly kinetic - flaming with an undeniably awe-inspiring energy, captivating the viewer, carving intense images into the conscious.

The shots are gorgeous. Slow-motion technique is used sparingly, to great success, and eye-popping HD shots of half-second events extend the phenomena to powerfully vivid proportions. Also worth realizing is Renner's terrific performance as James, the blithely flippant IED defuser.

Thought-provoking and fiercely tensioned, The Hurt Locker is an instant success and the best dramatization of the Iraq War to date.